How have bird species populations changed from 1880 to now?

Summary

Bird species abundance and diversity has certainly changed between now and the 1880’s when the Champlain Society was running field courses on Mount Desert Island (MDI). We compared the Champlain Society’s species list that they kept over the 4 year duration they were active on MDI, to the past 4 years of eBird and iNaturalist data from 2018-2021. Today, there are 95 common species on MDI, whereas in the early 1880’s there were only 60 common species. So, the diveristy of regularly occuring species has increased. Table 1 lists all species that were not recorded historically or were rare, but are now common or have increased greatly since the 1880s. When looking at the changes of the species recorded historically we do see a 26.14% decrease in these species (Fiugre 1, Table 3). Table 1 and Table 2 highlight the species with noteable changes over the last 150 years. For a full list of changes to species see Table 4.

Bar Graph of Species Changes

**Figure 1**. The bar graph shows changes in the species recorded by the Champlain Society in the 1880s.

Figure 1. The bar graph shows changes in the species recorded by the Champlain Society in the 1880s.

Notably Increasing Species

Table 1. This table shows the species that have increased drastically in abundance since the 1880s. From this, we can infer that these species have expanded their range likely as a result of cliamte change and landscape change. There are 33 species that are now common on MDI that were not present historically, and 19 species that are uncommon but regular and were not present historically.

common.name scientific.name frequency.1880 frequency.current freq.changes
Black-throated Blue Warbler Setophaga caerulescens very rare common increased
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata rare common increased
Brown Creeper Certhia americana rare common increased
Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis very rare uncommon increased
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe rare common increased
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra rare common increased
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis very rare uncommon increased
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria rare common increased
Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola not detected uncommon increased
Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata not detected uncommon increased
Canada Goose Branta canadensis not detected common increased
Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina not detected uncommon increased
Common Eider Somateria mollissima not detected common increased
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula not detected common increased
Common Merganser Mergus merganser not detected common increased
Common Raven Corvus corax not detected common increased
Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii not detected uncommon increased
Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum not detected common increased
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus not detected common increased
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens not detected common increased
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris not detected uncommon increased
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis not detected common increased
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus not detected common increased
Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo not detected uncommon increased
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus not detected uncommon increased
Great Egret Ardea alba not detected uncommon increased
Green-winged Teal Anas crecca not detected uncommon increased
Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus not detected common increased
House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus not detected common increased
House Sparrow Passer domesticus not detected common increased
Laughing Gull Leucophaeus atricilla not detected common increased
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus not detected uncommon increased
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos not detected common increased
Merlin Falco columbarius not detected common increased
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura not detected common increased
Nelson’s Sparrow Ammospiza nelsoni not detected common increased
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis not detected common increased
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus not detected common increased
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum not detected uncommon increased
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus not detected common increased
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus not detected common increased
Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus not detected common increased
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena not detected uncommon increased
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis not detected common increased
Rock Pigeon Columba livia not detected common increased
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendula not detected uncommon increased
Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus not detected common increased
Snowy Egret Egretta thula not detected uncommon increased
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana not detected common increased
Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina not detected uncommon increased
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor not detected uncommon increased
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura not detected common increased
Veery Catharus fuscescens not detected uncommon increased
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis not detected common increased
White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi not detected common increased
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo not detected common increased
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus not detected uncommon increased
Wood Duck Aix sponsa not detected common increased
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina not detected common increased
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius not detected uncommon increased
**Figure 5**. Black-throated Blue Warbler (*Setophaga caerulescens*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 5. Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) distribution across MDI.

**Figure 6**. Blue Jay (*Cyanocitta cristata*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 6. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) distribution across MDI.

**Figure 7**. Eastern Phoebe (*Sayornis phoebe*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 7. Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) distribution across MDI.

Noteably Decreasing Species

Table 2. This table shows the species that have decreased drastically in abundance since the 1880s.

common.name scientific.name frequency.1880 frequency.current freq.changes
American Woodcock Scolopax minor common rare decreased
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia common rare decreased
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus common rare decreased
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax common very rare decreased
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla uncommon very rare decreased
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis common rare decreased
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica common rare decreased
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota common very rare decreased
Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius rare extinct decreased
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus common rare decreased
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus common rare decreased
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris common rare decreased
**Figure 2**. American Woodcock (*Scolopax minor*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 2. American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) distribution across MDI.

**Figure 3**. Black-crowned Night-Heron (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 3. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) distribution across MDI.

**Figure 4**. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (*Empidonax flaviventris*) distribution across MDI.

Figure 4. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) distribution across MDI.

All Decreasing Species

Table 3. This table shows the species we know to have descreased in abundance since the 1880s.

common.name scientific.name frequency.1880 frequency.current frequency.changes
American Woodcock Scolopax minor common rare decreased
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia common rare decreased
Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea common uncommon decreased
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus common rare decreased
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax common very rare decreased
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla uncommon very rare decreased
Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus rare very rare decreased
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis common rare decreased
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica common rare decreased
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus uncommon rare decreased
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea rare very rare decreased
Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla common uncommon decreased
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps rare very rare decreased
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus common rare decreased
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris rare very rare decreased
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres uncommon rare decreased
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus common rare decreased
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus uncommon rare decreased
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris common rare decreased
Eastern Whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus rare very rare decreased
Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius rare extinct decreased
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota common very rare decreased
Purple Martin Progne subis rare very rare decreased

Total Species List Changes

Table 5. This table breaks down of all species recorded by the Champlain Society with their frquency status from the 1880s and today. If you look at the ‘Changes in Frequency’ column you can see how these species have changed from historic times.

common.name scientific.name frequency.1880 frequency.current frequency.changes
Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum common common no change
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus rare uncommon increased
American Black Duck Anas rubripes common common no change
American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos common common no change
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis common common no change
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla common common no change
American Robin Turdus migratorius common common no change
American Woodcock Scolopax minor common rare decreased
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus common common no change
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia common rare decreased
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica common common no change
Barred Owl Strix varia uncommon common increased
Bay-breasted Warbler Setophaga castanea common uncommon decreased
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon common common no change
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle common common no change
Black Scoter Melanitta americana rare uncommon increased
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia common common no change
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus common rare decreased
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus common common no change
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax common very rare decreased
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla uncommon very rare decreased
Black-throated Green Warbler Setophaga virens common common no change
Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca common common no change
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata rare common increased
Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius common common no change
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus uncommon uncommon no change
Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia uncommon common increased
Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus rare very rare decreased
Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus common common no change
Brown Creeper Certhia americana rare common increased
Canada Warbler Cardellina canadensis common rare decreased
Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum common common no change
Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica common common no change
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica common rare decreased
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina common common no change
Common Loon Gavia immer uncommon common increased
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor common common no change
Common Tern Sterna hirundo common common no change
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas common common no change
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis common common no change
Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens common common no change
Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus uncommon rare decreased
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe rare common increased
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa common common no change
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias common common no change
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca uncommon common increased
Hairy Woodpecker Dryobates villosus common common no change
Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus common common no change
Herring Gull Larus argentatus common common no change
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea rare very rare decreased
Leach’s Storm-Petrel Hydrobates leucorhous rare rare no change
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla common common no change
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes uncommon common increased
Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia common common no change
Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis ruficapilla common uncommon decreased
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus common common no change
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius rare uncommon increased
Northern Parula Setophaga americana common common no change
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis rare rare no change
Osprey Pandion haliaetus common common no change
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla common common no change
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps rare very rare decreased
Pine Siskin Spinus pinus common rare decreased
Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus common common no change
Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra rare common increased
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis common common no change
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus common common no change
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus uncommon common increased
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris rare very rare decreased
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris common common no change
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres uncommon rare decreased
Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus common rare decreased
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis common common no change
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla common common no change
Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus uncommon common increased
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus uncommon rare decreased
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria rare common increased
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia common common no change
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius common common no change
Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus common common no change
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor common common no change
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus rare rare no change
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis common common no change
White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera rare uncommon increased
Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla rare rare no change
Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis common common no change
Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia common common no change
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris common rare decreased
Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata common common no change
Eastern Whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus rare very rare decreased
Passenger Pigeon Ectopistes migratorius rare extinct decreased
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota common very rare decreased
Purple Martin Progne subis rare very rare decreased